[wysifield-embeddedaudio|eid="393326"|type="embeddedaudio"|view_mode="full"]On playing the Patriots...
"It's a big challenge. I mean, it's a big challenge to go up against a team that's so well coached and has a lot of really good players, a great quarterback. It's a big challenge for us. We practiced today, looked like we had a decent practice. But we're going to have to keep improving every day to be able to go out there and have a good game on Sunday night."
- Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien
"They are such a good football team and I had the luxury to be there for 11 years and over my time we lost some games and everything, but that team is always going to be ready to play. It is all about execution and I tried to tell our guys all of the time that preparation is everything for us and this week is no different than any other week. We try to prepare the best way that we can and, hopefully, on gameday, be able to execute on a high level. It's going to be the same thing this week. We are not looking at any records, we are looking strictly off of what we see on film, how explosive this team is, how well they play on defense, you name it, you see a good football team and it's just a consistent football team over the course of the years that they always play good football. Especially at this time of the year, they always play good football. We really don't look at the losses from these guys because we know how good they are and we have to stay focused on that."
- Texans Nose Tackle Vince Wilfork
"It's exciting man, primetime Sunday night, at home against one of the better teams in the league. Can't really ask for much more, you get up for those kind of games, so I'm looking forward to it."
- Texans Tackle Duane Brown
"They're very well rounded. In many different categories they're good. They're going to be able to pass the ball and they're going to be able to run the ball. That's what they do. The passing game obviously helps set up the running game. They have great players. They have great coaches. So, we look forward to a very good challenge on Sunday night. It's going to be a lot of fun."
- Texans Defensive End J.J. Watt
[wysifield-embeddedaudio|eid="393331"|type="embeddedaudio"|view_mode="full"]On playing against his former team...
"I got a job to do. That is my thoughts and I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to seeing my guys. I am pretty sure I have a lot of guys that I would love to see and say hello to, but once that whistle blows, it's time to get to work and they feel the same way, once that whistle blows, I guess we are enemies now. But I will be back loving them after the game, but those 60 minutes, it's the Patriots versus the Texans and right now I am a Texan. I got a job to do and hopefully I can do it well."Â
- Texans Nose Tackle Vince Wilfork
On whether his familiarity with Tom Brady will help the Texans...
"I don't think so. I think that it was about four years ago that I was there. I think they've changed. The thing about Tom is, which is a credit to him and his work ethic, but he changes with the personnel on the team. He gets better every single year. He's playing, obviously, at a very high level. He poises so many challenges to us because of his knowledge of the game. In addition, his knowledge of their system. It's a big challenge for us. We've got to do a good job of playing our game, do what we do well. Play a disciplined football game and make sure we're communicating on defense. Tackle well and get off blocks and rush the passer. Do the things that we do well. But as far as my knowledge of being there, that was about four years ago so I don't see that being any advantage at all."
- Texans Head Coach Bill O'Brien
On Tom Brady...
"Oh man, he's the ultimate competitor. There's times where he challenged me to footwork drills and stuff like that. I think we all know how fleet of foot he is. No matter how many times I'd beat him, he'd make me go again and again and again. He just hates to lose. Me being a competitor, I think you really respect that. I'm the same way. If I was going to play checkers with my brother-in-law, I wouldn't want him to win either. That's just the type of character and the type of guy that Tom is. It drives everyone around him to be better because he doesn't want to lose."
- Texans Quarterback Brian Hoyer
"He's one of the best all-time, countless Super Bowls, I mean you can't play around with this guy. If you are sitting back there and just being a sitting duck, he is going to pick you apart. For him, he is one of my favorites, right next to Peyton Manning, so I am looking forward to the challenge."
*- Texans Cornerback Charles James *
"Tom is obviously one of the best to ever do it. He has great command of his offense. Been doing it for a very long time. He's a very smart player. He knows that offense inside and out, so he knows where he is going to put the ball and he is going to put it on his receivers fast because he knows he wants to get it out of his hands quick. You're not going to get a ton of opportunities for him to hold the ball for a long time and we know that. You just have to do your best and make sure you get your hands up."
- Texans Defensive End J.J. Watt
On playing against a dangerous team that has lost two in a row...
"They'll be hungry. Everybody wants to win. It's the time of year that it's big, you know what I mean, it's December, a lot of teams want to win in December. They want to be good going into the playoffs. We are trying to fight to get into the playoffs. It's a big game all-around. I don't know if people will say it is a trap game or nothing like that, but both teams are hungry and want to win."
- Texans WR Cecil Shorts III
